Closer...and.......Closer!

I know Christmas is inching closer...and not because every morning Justine bounces out of her bedroom and announces how many days left until Christmas...I know because...

...I still have a pile of Christmas cards sitting on my table. Half are addressed, none are written in, I have no return address labels (have to have cute, Christmas ones of course) and I have three stamps in my position (none of which I can use because I need the Madonna stamps instead). I remember the days when I would have the cards out before Thanksgiving weekend was up. Those days are LONG gone.

...My closet is filling up with plastic bags full of presents for my family. That's the hiding place...it's ok, if you know, everyone knows (and they know to stay out, if they want their presents).

...I made my first batch of Almond Roca on Tuesday. I also have enough ingredients to make another 7 batches in my pantry. Gee, I hope that's enough.

...I'm knitting at a feverish pace to make sure CERTAIN things get done.

...I'm wondering what to get for the 5 people I work with....any ideas?

...I got an email from my mom giving me the wish list for my niece and nephews. Crap, I coulda got them stuff when I was at the mall yesterday. Back to the mall, I suppose.

...I have got to make it to the one See's Candy kiosk in all of Jacksonville to get goodies for the family (um...and me). I liked San Diego better, there was a See's Candy STORE in every mall...even one at the airport!

...I'm getting a hankerin' to drive around and look at Christmas lights! I'm even excited about going downtown and seeing the big tree at the Landing do it's little show of lights and music (hokey, but good family fun).

Gotta go...Christmas is coming!

Good Grief

Remember the Mike tree?

Well, it died...

Now we have a "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree"!!

Jacksonville Aboretum & Gardens

Al and Mike on one of the bridges along Jones Creek Trail.
Resurrection ferns...I think they're so pretty!

Watch your step!

We went to the Jacksonville Arboretum yesterday. It was so nice walking in the cold through the woods and we didn't have to drive far at all! This lovely sight is right in the middle of the city. If you live in Jax and haven't seen it...go!! You can hike around Lake Ray and take all three of the trail off-shoots. We didn't see any wildlife...rarely do we with three noisy kids in tow. The three trails are very short (the longest one is .5 miles) so bring the whole family and have a great time!

By the end of the hike, the girls were calling Joey "Wolfman" and calling for him with howls.

A-wooooooo!!

Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you take a minute (or longer) today to look at those around you and truly appreciate them. Appreciate your life. Appreciate this beautiful world we live in and the people in it. Appreciate those who work hard to make it as safe as possible.

Enjoy your family, friends and turkey with all the trimmings. Eat dessert today, too...it's good for the soul (you can think about your thighs tomorrow).

Rainy Day

It's been raining since early this morning, started just after midnight, I think. I love it. It's a soft rain not a hard downpour that makes you wonder how it's even possible so much water can come out of the sky. Soft and musical. The pool is a constant dribble of rain drops and water rings. The water collects on the top of the pool screen and looks like stars. I love this rain.

Yesterday we took our in-laws out to lunch at The Skyline. It's a cafeteria type restaurant on the 42nd floor of the BofA building in downtown Jax. Now if it wasn't cloudy, foggy day, the view would have been amazing! It was still pretty cool. Take note, any of you people who are brave enough to come visit us...you'll get to see it, too. We're making it a regular stop on the tour.

Today, in preparation for Thanksgiving, I'm making a sweet potato casserole and a chocolate pie. The rest can wait until tomorrow.

The rainy day calls for hot chocolate, games, movies and knitting! Enjoy your day too.

Swaddle

Someone asked me at knit group the other day if I'd knit my stash down like I wanted to this year. Yeah, some, but not as much as I'd anticipated. Why? Hmmm...I think part of the reason is I've been knitting mostly socks (about 20 pair this year) and my stash is made up of a lot of sweater yarns. I got so much sock yarn around my b-day that I've been concentrating on that and knitting very few sweaters. I'm thinking a switch needs to happen next year if I'm gonna get to all those sweaters I've been dreaming about.

I did find a vest pattern the other day that I think I'm gonna do next. It's called Swaddle, a freebie on the Rowan website. Never knew about their site, let alone that they offered free patterns. I've always loved the Rowan style...clean, tailored lines...really lovely. But expensive! Anyway, I have some deep blue yarn that I think will make a pretty vest, it's a little on the scratchy side, so a next-to-the-skin pattern is out of the question. I usually don't have a scratch issue with any yarn (well, mohair I do) so I've been hanging on to the yarn for the right pattern to come along. Hello Swaddle!

Tonight we go to the airport and pick up my in-laws! We're all so excited! Especially me, I love my in-laws!! And my wonderful husband is taking the week off! The house is just about ready...today I need to hit the grocery store, take Gracie for a fluff-n-fold, and get the laundry done. I'm sure I'll find time to work on my socks, too. There's always time to knit. Always.

Christmas on Walnut Street

The JaxKnits Christmas Tree!!
Decorating in action...everyone is enjoying themselves (some more than others)!

Our tree topper is a star made of knitting needles.

Here we are! Our knit group made all the ornaments, including an i-cord garland and knitted Christmas lights (You go Christine!). You can visit our tree at the Green Cove Springs Christmas on Walnut Street (Spring Park) any day between now and the first week in January.

Great job JaxKnits!!